India's "Cockroach movement," a youth-led protest group, continues its demonstrations in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and an overhaul of the education system due to alleged exam paper leaks. The movement gained significant attention after a police crackdown on hundreds of thousands of protesters attempting to march towards Parliament on Monday. This ongoing dissent represents a rare and notable challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, drawing criticism for its handling of protests and the use of force against demonstrators. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have condemned the police actions and supported the students' demands.
The protests, centered at Jantar Mantar, escalated on Monday when police reportedly used tear gas and batons against demonstrators, injuring at least 60 protesters and 118 police personnel. Following the crackdown, leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) stated they would refrain from further street marches due to safety concerns but vowed to continue their advocacy for reform. Despite a meeting between CJP leaders and Health Minister JP Nadda, who is also a senior leader of the ruling BJP, protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of concrete assurances, particularly regarding Pradhan's resignation.
The core of the movement's demands stems from the leak of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which led to the cancellation of an exam taken by nearly 2.28 million candidates and a subsequent re-test. This scandal has been linked to over 20 student suicides, intensifying calls for accountability and compensation for affected families, with some demanding 10 million rupees ($104,000) per family. The CJP, initially a satirical political movement, has evolved into a formidable force capable of mobilizing large numbers of people, putting considerable pressure on the Modi administration regarding its educational policies and its response to public grievances.
